Chapter 5 - Controlling performance part 1

Question 1

What is control?

Answer 1

A primary task and is the process of ensuring the operations proceed according to plan

Question 2

What does the control system consist of?

Answer 2

• Control environment
• Control procedures

Question 3

How does management by objectives (MBO) support delegation?

Answer 3

Sets a more global sense of direction while leaving it up to staff to sort out the minutiae of how they actually work

Question 4

What are the benefits of health and safety controls?

Answer 4

• Legal obligation met
• Cost savings
• Company image
• Preserve well-being of employees

Question 5

What are the key areas of the HASAWA?

Answer 5

• Provision and maintenance of risk free plant and systems of work
• Ensuring safety in use
• Provision of info, training and supervision
• Maintenance of safe workplace
• Provision of entry/exit
• Adequate facilities

Question 6

What is a Health and Safety Exec (HSE)?

Answer 6

Independent regulator with the duty to make adequate provision for the enforcement of the HASAWA, main duty to provide workplace inspections

Question 7

What is the difference between a safety committee and a safety meeting?

Answer 7

• Committee is an organisational structure where members represent a group
• Meeting includes all employees and a management person is present to ensure issues are handled

Question 8

What is the main purpose of taking disciplinary action?

Answer 8

Achieve a change in behaviour of employees so future action is unnecessary

Question 9

What is the process for handling disciplinary procedures?

Answer 9

• Informal talk
• Oral warning
• Written warning
• Suspension
• Demotion
• Dismissal

Question 10

What are the 3 steps of the statutory procedure?

Answer 10

• Statement in writing saying what the employee has allegedly done
• Meeting to discuss the situation
• Right of appeal

Question 11

What must be a part of disciplinary procedures according to the ACAS code of practice?

Answer 11

• Be in writing
• Specify whom they apply
• Provide for matters to be dealt with quickly
• Indicate the disciplinary actions which may be taken
• Specify levels of management with authority
• Right of appeal
• No employees dismissed for first breach
• No action taken until investigation concluded
• Explanation given for any penalty incurred

Question 12

How should discipline be handled?

Answer 12

• Encourage improvement
• Act promptly
• Gather facts
• Stay calm
• Be consistent
• Consider each case on its merits
• Follow disciplinary procedure
• Suspension with pay
• Self discipline

Question 13

What is the grievance procedure?

Answer 13

• Employee discusses with a colleague, staff or union rep
• If warranted, taken to employees immediate superior
• If that superior cannot help, taken higher up and HR informed
• Distinction made between individual and collective
• Time-frames stated

Question 14

What are employment tribunals?

Answer 14

Independent judicial bodies established to hear and determine claims to do with employment matters

Question 15

What are some of the alternatives to tribunals?

Answer 15

• Arbitration
• Mediation
• Conciliation

Question 16

What are the benefits of arbitration?

Answer 16

• Speedy private informal hearing
• No cross-examination
• Limited grounds for review of arbitrator’s decision

Question 17

What are the benefits of conciliation?

Answer 17

-Confidentiality
- Avoid time, stress and cost of tribunal
- Lessening damage to relationship
- Reach mutual agreement

Question 17

What are the benefits of mediation?

Answer 17

• Speedy resolution
• Avoids stress of informal hearing
• Parties can express views directly

Question 18

What are the benefits of discipline and grievance procedures?

Answer 18

• Employers’ legal obligation met
• Cost savings
• Company image
• Preserve the well-being of employees

Question 19

What are the reasons for fair dismissal?

Answer 19

• Conduct
• Capability
• Statutory duty
• Other substantial reason
• Redundant

Question 20

What are the types of dismissal?

Answer 20

• Constructive
• Wrongful

Question 21

On what grounds may redundancy be justified?

Answer 21

• Cessation of business
• Cessation of business in place where employee was wanted
• Cessation of type of work

Question 22

What 3 terms did Rosseau and Greller define in the psychological contract?

Answer 22

• Coercive - employee forced to contribute
• Calculative - employee acts voluntarily
• Cooperative - employees contribute above what’s expected

Question 23

What should be a part of a positive approach to equal opportunities?

Answer 23

• Secure best recruits
• Ensure employees are fully utilised
• Reinforce professionalism and image of company

Question 24

What are the 3 levels of culture according to Schein?

Answer 24

- Artefacts - seen heard observed - Espoused Values - identified from stories and opinions - Basic assumptions - deeply embedded don't need mention

Question 25

What are the advantages of having a strong culture?

Answer 25

- Facilitate good communication - Provide a framework of social identity - Reduce differences - Strengthen dominant values - Regulate behaviour - Minimise perceptual differences - Reflect philosophies and values - Affect strategy and ability to change

Question 26

What are the disadvantages of having a strong culture?

Answer 26

- Difficult to change - Blinkered view - Stress inappropriate values - Potential clash - Unattuned to environment

Question 27

What are the influences on culture?

Answer 27

- Size - Technology - Diversity - Age - History - Ownership